Fueling Fitness: A Certified Personal Trainer's Daily Diet Revealed

If you’re active on TikTok or Instagram these days, you’ve probably seen a fair amount of “What I Eat in a Day” videos circulating around. These bite-sized videos feature clips of users’ daily meals and snacks, and are great for gathering ideas and inspiration when it comes to figuring out what to eat. 

However, the internet is full of information, and you, unfortunately, can't always trust everything you see on social media. So we thought, why not ask someone you can trust? Enter Taylor McAllister, a certified personal trainer and expert on helping women get stronger and healthier. She’s also a mom of three, so she understands that healthy meals and snacks don’t have to take hours to prepare.  

So, ready to see what that looks like? Her answers might surprise you, and don’t worry – her daily meal plan is more than attainable for you, too. “As a busy mom of three, I definitely keep it simple. I promise it’s achievable,” McAllister emphasizes. 

Okay, let’s dive in. 

Breakfast 

McAllister starts her day with water, and then a banana. “If my workout is going to be a little more strenuous, I’ll do toast topped with a banana, and a little peanut butter and cinnamon,” she says. 

She then finishes breakfast with Megawatt Natural pre-workout, followed by the Postworkout Stack once her workout is finished. “It’s a rapid assimilation protein and glycogen,” the trainer explains. “The chocolate mint cookie flavor is *chef’s kiss.*”

After her shake, she has breakfast with her kids, which “95 percent of the time” includes eggs and toast, or eggs and a pancake or waffle. McAllister also takes her prenatal vitamins and Omega-3s with breakfast. 

Lunch

From breakfast onward, McAllister says she “normally [doesn't] need any more food until lunchtime, and I eat every meal with my kids, so I keep it simple. It’s usually like an adult Lunchable – turkey and cheese roll-ups with fruit and a veggie on the side. If I get fancy, I’ll make an actual sandwich, but it’s rare I feel like I have the time. If not that, I’m eating my dinner leftovers, but I normally try to cook a dinner that will last us two nights.” 

Between lunch and dinner, the mom of three says she “always needs a snack,” which consists of “Reds and Greens powder every single day when my kids go down for a nap.” She’ll also typically reach for a beef stick, apple, and nuts, or a “huge protein smoothie,” if she’s feeling extra hungry. 

Dinner

“For dinner, it totally varies,” McAllister says. “I really enjoy cooking, so we mix it up. Every week I see what proteins are on sale at my local grocery store, and plan my dinners around those. We eat chicken thighs, a veggie, and a grain VERY often. The chicken marinade and types of veggies and grains I mix up.” 

Dessert 

Surprised to see a personal trainer eating dessert? You shouldn’t be! Eating healthy doesn’t mean you need to cut everything you enjoy out of your diet, and McAllister proves it’s possible to have both. It really just comes down to keeping everything in proportion. 

“Trader Joe’s mini ice cream cones are a staple or an Outshine Fruit Bar,” she says of her go-to picks for a post-dinner treat. “The lime flavor is the best; I don’t want to hear otherwise.” 

Now listen, the “What I Eat in a Day'' trend is fun, and it’s interesting to see what other people eat throughout the day but it’s important to keep in mind that what works for one person may not work for another. McAllister’s daily diet is a great framework to get you started, but ultimately, your diet is going to be influenced by your goals and individual body. 

“If you want to lose weight, make sure you’re in a calorie deficit, and over time it will happen. It’s science,” McAllister says of the one rule that makes up most conventional diets. 

“I found a sustainable balance in my diet when I focused on what I could gain in eating instead of lose. For example, during my day I focus on how much protein I can pack into every meal and snack. Then I focus on how many veggies and fruits I can add in. Focusing on adding in foods instead of taking out foods helped me to reframe my mindset to food expansion as opposed to food restriction. Adding in those whole foods can take up more space in your daily intake, making you feel better, and giving you better results,” she explains. 

So, with that in mind, take from McAllister’s daily diet what works for you – like lots of protein and veggies – and experiment with what feels the best for your body to create a sustainable way of eating that supports your goals! 

Want more from Taylor McAllister? Follow her on @tay_macfit, and check out her app, MACFIT, which features hundreds of meals, snacks, and meal plans.